The First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) has a majority to maintain the arrest of Rio de Janeiro state deputy Thiago Rangel (Avante). The collegiate opened an extraordinary virtual session this Thursday, 7th, to endorse minister Alexandre de Moraes’ decision.
Moraes opened the trial with a vote to maintain prison and was accompanied by Flávio Dino and Cristiano Zanin. Minister Cármen Lúcia has until 7pm to speak.
On Wednesday, the 6th, Moraes issued a decision for Rangel to remain in prison on suspicion of fraud at the State Department of Education and prohibited the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj) from reversing the arrest.
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The decision removes a rule from the Rio Constitution that allows the House to revoke arrests of state deputies. Moraes stated that legislatures from “several states” have guaranteed “a system of total impunity” for state deputies investigated for crimes, including in cases linked to criminal organizations.
He argued that, of 13 arrests of state deputies for infractions unrelated to the exercise of their mandate, 12 were revoked by decision of the Legislature, eight of which were in the State of Rio. In the vote tallied this Thursday, the minister maintains the understanding.
Thiago Rangel was arrested by the Federal Police (PF) on Tuesday, 5th, in Operation Nail and Meat. He is suspected of being part of a criminal organization that defrauded contracts for the purchase of materials and the provision of services, including renovation works, within the scope of Education in Rio. The same investigation also led to the arrest of former president of Alerj Rodrigo Bacellar.
To the Estadãothe parliamentarian’s office stated that Rangel “completely trusts in Justice and will demonstrate his innocence throughout due legal process”.
